I have to say, most of the time, when I notice a driver doing something particularly bone-headed, e.g. crawling along at a slow pace while a stale green is about to turn red, or swerving into my lane unexpectedly, it's because the genius is talking on his cell phone. So I'm not surprised by this NTSB recommendation. A ban would go a long way to preventing road rage.
A total ban is an inconvenience to everyone. It's motivated by the evident fact that too many people cannot be bothered to show some restraint. While driving, keep those calls short, if you must call at all.
Still, my suspicion is that people in Congress are among the worst offenders, so that nothing will be done on this score.

A new device can be fitted into every car so that the driving seat area will not be able receive or transmit calls including the hands free wired or non wired devices. This device to be designd as a passive device which will absorb all the radiation of the mobile tower signls. Also it will detect audio signls from the wired devices and switch of the engine with a warning.

The problem with legislating a ban is that determined users will ignore the law just as they do now. Placing the responsibility on the service providers to detect motion and disable communication (except for emergency calls) will ensure all moving devices are rendered inoperable.
The argument against this is that passengers in cars, trains, buses, boats are also affected. However, in most cases these passengers are already restricted from other activities such as consumption of alcohol or illicit substances.
The alternative is to embed a jamming device in the vehicle that can sense whether it is the driver or a passenger using the mobile unit, make this device impossible to defeat by its removal or electrical disconnection, and not jam users external to the vehicle. This would be quite a trick.
Maybe a camera in the steering wheel? [(No image OR driver's lips moving OR lips covered with surgical mask) AND strong RF field detected AND vehicle in motion AND both hands not on steering wheel for longer than 5 seconds = enable jam)]. Or similar algorithm. The problem here is that older vehicles without this 'feature' would quickly rise in value and remain in service much longer than they do now.
It's a pickle all right...

Interesting concept but I suspect there would be a huge uproar about government pushing personal freedoms if such a device were mandated in a car. I agree that something needs to be done, I've seen too many close calls due to cell phone use behind the wheel.

I approve of the ban. More people are killed by phone or texting users than drunk drivers. While there has been some reduction in drunk driving, accidents by distracted phone and texting is on the rise. We all need to identify and expose the ignorant people who think they can do other things while driving. Perhaps if they lose their drivers licenses, they will have more time to phone or text without endangering anyone.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Now days there are laws that compel us to do a myriad of things which most would be better off learning through parental instruction. What next--a law banning drive-thru food since someone taking a bite out of a quarter pounder while exiting McDonalds is more likely to get in an accident? Burgers have been around a lot longer than cell phones and are certainly as dangerous.

Never mind safety issues when wired to the engine controls!
Irresponsibility is there all the time, phone use just provides another opportunity for the idiot within us to reveal itself.
Maybe set cars' EMS to run very slow, very safe (and yet economical) unless the driver holds a advanced licence which is as hard to get and hold as a commercial pilot's licence.

Instead of making legislation which only sane people follow and hence are of no use let the technology itself impose such restrictions.
Let the Car body itself act as a shield jamming all kind of transmission (except may be GPS) while engine is running. If anybody in the car wants to talk, take the car out of the traffic , stop the engine and then talk.

Windows would have to be made conductive, and the rubber seals would also need to be conductive to form a Faraday cage.
Windows would have to be forced closed when an internal RF field is detected This can be defeated by use of an external antenna.
Forcing the windows closed while the vehicle is in motion because of RF field detected could trap Junior's little arm. Someone would be sued.
Fully agree with your last statement. If any occupants of the vehicle absolutely must talk, pull over into a McD's or such and tend to other bodily requirements at the same time.
@ seaEE I once mirror-watched a female in an SUV come tearing up behind while stopped at a red traffic light. She had a hamburger in one hand and a phone in the other.
1st thought - Didn't your mother tell you that speaking with your mouth full is rude?
2nd thought - What are you steering with - your elbows?

All the following are legal: driving with your eyes closed, driving while exhausted and delirious, reading a magainze on your lap, adjusting the EQ on the radio, digging items out of the center console, checking out your review mirror for more than a few seconds.